do you think that this changes the grounds of negotiations for the fiscal cliff, and do you think that he's in some way -- he's been aa very ardent tea party supporter, critic of john boehner even with his initial proposal. is he going to wield actually more power at the heritage foundation than he does right now as a senator? >> it's always a joke when anybody talks about wielding more power out of elective office as a civilian than in elective office. it's a real help to the republicans in the senate because he has cost them the senate. he has done more damage to the senate and most especially to republicans in the senate than anyone else. he has backed these crazy, nutty tea parties who have gutted the republican nomination for senate in various states around the country, and then he went on to lose to democrats thereby preserving the democratic control of the senate, preserving harry he reed therei. he had become an absolute disaster within his own party. the big cheer today is in the republican caucus saying, finally, we're getting rid of our absolute craziest nut. >> very good. w